Where to go from here? (Custom enclosure setup)

[Wrecka]

My grandfather made this enclosure for me, and its 4' X 2' and made with 3/4" plywood and plexiglas for the windows. I'm trying to figure out what would be best for heat. I have a Johnson Controls thermostat and I can order some more heat tape to go on the underside, but I wanted to get some ideas from you guys on where I should go from here. I had been thinking of getting a light and putting a wire screen around it up at the top too. (pictures below)

And something that concerns me a bit is there is a little splintering on some of the wood on the inside, but only in 2 or 3 little spots down towards the base. What can I do to cover those up, and still be safe for the snake? (pictures below)

Also, the inside of those vents worry me a bit, I don't want my snake to cut himself on the blades of the vents from the inside. I know I can probably take them out, but should I put some screen over the opening to make sure he doesn't harm himself rubbing against it? (pictures below)

I'm just looking for a little guidance as this is my first enclosure and with it being so big, I need to make sure I can maintain the proper husbandry requirements.

Thanks, and I look forward to reading some of your suggestions!

Here are some pictures that I took just a few minutes ago:

[Byron]

looks pretty good.

If it were mine, I'd seal the wood with some sort of polyurethane or maybe even fiberglass resin. Then I'd hit the seams with silicone. And depending on whether or not the side vents have sharp edges, I'd consider mounting them from the inside so the flat side is facing the interior.

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[Icicle]

For heat I would try a RHP, with a low watt light bulb for light.

Nice looking cage.

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[gottabsleeved]

I agree flip those sharp vents!I have heard pine is no good for snakes should use oak.So sealing it wouldnt be good enough for me id use shower board to go up walls and floor and silicone corners, cheap and waterproof, lowes seals it in4x8 sheets for less than $15 a sheet its like a 1/8 inch thick.But mccarthy boas.com tells the correct way to seal a cage his floor epoxy will cover those splinters and use water base stain and Waterbased poly for walls.No oil based!Let it air out for a week with the heat on before adding snake!

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[Tom]

If you don't flip the vents around you could buy some round plastic vents like the ones I use. The one's I use are only 4" but they do make a 6 to 8 inch round one and a 12 inch square one to. I buy them at Lowes in the plumbing department. Here is a link to my free cage prints and how to seal your wood cage. EZ_Prints







I only use the 18 X 18 Kane mat for all my wood cages. In my opinion they are the best mat you can buy. I have 3 that are 12 to 13 years old now and they stay on 24 / 7 and they still work like new. I mount them under my cages not inside the cage too.



The mat is mounted upside down in this picture. This is an old Kane mat the new ones from Kane you would have to mount right side up. Kane reengineered there mats years ago I believe to make them more efficient. Kane mats have no problem heating through 3/4 inch plywood. My cage temps are hot side 88 to 95 and cool side 76 to 82. Make sure you leave a air space with any heat mat as this will help them from over heating and burning out.


Take care
Tom

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[Wrecka]

Thanks for the all the tips so far! I would like to add a light on the inside, just for display purposes, also I think I want a fluorescent light in addition to the flexxwatt heat tape on the underside.

My main concern is being able to properly regulate a temperature gradient between the warm side and cool side. I know I can regulate the warm side just fine with the heat tape, but the cool side I need to warm up a little, but just not as much as the warm side, and I don't know if my thermostat will allow me to control different flexwatt strips with the same control (here is my thermostat Pro Exotics :: Reptile Supplies :: Johnson Controls Thermostat)

My previous enclosure was just a Rubbermaid tub, and I want to make the adjustment to this wooden enclosure as quickly as possible.

Thanks again!

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[Wrecka]

Also, I have a Suriname RTB, so my warm side needs to be between 90-92 and my cool side between 78-82. I just don't know exactly how I'm going to warm up the cool side only about 8-10 degrees.

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[gottabsleeved]

I have put a Board on the back of melamine cages with 1/2 spacers and srewed it on.And then slide a heat mat in between cage and board then just plugged in to the same thermostate.Good for a few ambient degress.This gives a hot and a middle temp and still have cool spot in front off the floor heat.Instead of summer to winter they also have a fall.

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[Wrecka]

So, it turns out that the stain that my grandfather used was oil based. Can I still save this enclosure or is it unsafe?

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[Tom]

Originally Posted by Wrecka

So, it turns out that the stain that my grandfather used was oil based. Can I still save this enclosure or is it unsafe?

Yes you just need to let it dry and air out then clear coat the inside of the cage. As for heating just use a Kane heat mat on the hot side and if you need it put a 40 watt CHE on a dimmer. When it's really cold out in the winter I do use a 40 watt CHE to help warm up the air temp in my wood cage. I only have it 1/4 to 1/2 power when I use them. I keep my home's temp around 70 to 72 degrees in the winter.

Take care
Tom

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	Ceramic Heat Emitter Ceramic Heat Emitter: A porcelain heating device that screws into a standard porcelain incandescent socket

[Wrecka]

What exactly kind of clear coat should I use?

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[Tom]

Originally Posted by Wrecka

What exactly kind of clear coat should I use?

Just click on my "EZ Prints" link above and all the info you need is there.

take care
Tom

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[ioctoberdrums]

you may want to put in a 3 inch litter dam or your gonna be spillin substrate every time you open it.

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[Wrecka]

Originally Posted by Tom

Just click on my "EZ Prints" link above and all the info you need is there.
take care
Tom

Ah, I missed that link the first time. Just clicked on it, thanks a lot!

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[gottabsleeved]

Your fine with oil based on the outside just not on the inside.

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[AGActaeonia]

I find it's more efficient - both in terms of husbandry and economically - to heat the room to the correct ambient temperature. A cool-end of 78 degrees is appropriate for a Suriname, and if the room is somewhat warm, just make sure it stays that way.

Heating both ends of the enclosure with something like Flexwatt isn't something I recommend.

I've 4' enclosures that have a 12"x12" sheet of Flexwatt on the hot-end that are thermostatically controlled providing a hot-spot of 92. The cool-end is in the low 80s - high 70s with no additional heating required, and my room is set at 75 degrees.

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[Wrecka]

I'm almost done with everything now and I need 1 last piece of advice. Ok, you see how the door opens, well the latch at the top doesn't keep the door closed and I don't want to be fighting a losing battle with heat/humidity. What would be the best way to fasten the door and ensure that it stays sealed when closed?

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[mongoose5971]

Originally Posted by Wrecka

I'm almost done with everything now and I need 1 last piece of advice. Ok, you see how the door opens, well the latch at the top doesn't keep the door closed and I don't want to be fighting a losing battle with heat/humidity. What would be the best way to fasten the door and ensure that it stays sealed when closed?

Maybe some foam weatherstripping or wrap some strips of Velcro from the door to the cage on each side. And as for the vents, they do look potentially dangerous, I'd see if you could remove the parts that stick out and just screen them off if you can't replace them with plastic ones. Hope all that made sense

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[Wrecka]

Well, here it is.



Yea, it's basic right now, but at least he's got all that extra room to move around in now. I have aspen bedding down now, but I really would like to get some darker substrate, with bigger pieces as to avoid accidental ingestion. The hide box is a Air Jordan shoe box for now, but I hope to get something better and more decorative in time. Also I need to get something for him to climb on. I would like to add some fake plants and decorate it up a little bit and make it visually exceptional.

Any ideas or tips would be much appreciated!

Also, where have you guys bought the guards and screens to go around the lights? I haven't installed my lights yet, but I want to do that next.

And, I'm having a little bit of trouble keeping a high enough humidity. It has been staying around 60-62%, but that's when both vents are closed and that concerns me a little bit.

I'm still trying to get all the kinks worked out, and I know this is the right website to do that. You guys have been a tremendous help.

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[Wrecka]

Any ideas or suggestions??

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